About this project

$6,320

pledged of $2,000 goal

84

backers

Thank you for reading up on my Kickstarter Project. I still really love to hold an album in my hands and have decided to keep pressing physical versions of my albums though it's not necessarily the direction the industry is moving. I self released my first two albums, China Mountain and Stolen, and was lucky enough to team up with Saint Marie Records for my next full length, the Bluebird of Happiness, which will be out before the springtime on CD. I had another 8 songs I was working on at the same time as Bluebird, songs that didn't belong on the album for one reason or another, or felt more like singles than part of one complete whole. But I loved the songs too much to think of them as B-sides and decided I wanted to press a CD of those 8 songs, and include lyrics and art and make it official.

And so I keep calling it an EP, though it's as long as most people's albums (but not mine), as it feels like a collection of sorts. The songs are all their own little universes. And I haven't yet named the EP as I am waiting to see the final version of the album art before I make a decision.

All of the songs on the album are originals and have never been released before. A few of them almost ended up on The Bluebird of Happiness. A few of them were originally intended to be Trespassers William songs. (One features Matt and Jake from Trespassers.) The song in the video here is one of the songs on the EP (but of course a proper studio version.) It was recorded and mixed by myself, at home and on an island. It was mastered by Doug Krebs, a sound engineer who became my friend in Seattle, who has a great ear. In order to cover mastering, art, and duplication costs, your help will be invaluable.

To me this is much like a traditional pre-order situation, so that I can afford to press the album, but with the option for you to receive other rare items or acknowledgment if you choose to pay more than the price of a regular CD. I can promise that I will remember you all by name and will write out each of your packages by hand, as I have been doing for the past 5 years with all of the albums I sell. It is part of why I love making music to know who you are.

I'm hoping that, in looking at this as a flexible sort of preorder, we can far surpass the $2000 goal which will basically just cover the physical pressing of the CDs.

Thank you so very much.

Anna-Lynne Williams (Lotte Kestner)

Risks and challenges

My only hurdle is the cost of manufacturing a CD. I have already recorded this album and so the release date is guaranteed by March 2013, if not earlier. I recorded the album myself and had it mastered locally to keep costs down, which is why I'm not trying to raise as much money as most other musicians doing a Kickstarter for an album. However, the cost of duplication, registration, packaging, and artwork are all expenses I have ahead of me that your contribution will be directly applied to.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $25 or more
About $25

THE "EP" AND HOMEMADE POETRY "EP" - Along with the new 8-song EP you will also receive a simple homemade Poetry EP on CD. Included are the song "Blind Accidents" by Damien Jurado, based on a poem by Lotte Kestner (Anna-Lynne) and the song "You Must Have" by Lotte Kestner also based on one of her poems. Additional tracks are TBA.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $100 or more
About $100

CHOOSE A COVER SONG PACKAGE - Along with the new 8-song EP and homemade Poetry EP, Lotte Kestner will record a cover of any song of your own choosing. You will not only be sent a CD of the song you chose, but in the case that there are multiple backers selecting this package, you will receive ALL OF THE COVER SONGS RECORDED FOR THIS KICKSTARTER PROJECT. These songs will not be released elsewhere.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $150 or more
About $150

THE PATRON PACKAGE - If you pledge $150 or more to this project, you will receive the new EP, the Poetry EP, will get to select a cover song of your choice and receive the disc of new Kickstarter cover songs. In addition, you will receive a signed copy of Anna-Lynne's poetry book and you will be thanked by name in the EP.